Ashes Additions

Scott Borthwick and James Tredwell have been called up by England into their Ashes squad following the departure of Graeme Swann due to his sudden retirement.

Borthwick could potentially pick up his first Test cap on Boxing Day but the odds are much more in Monty Panesar's favour to replace Swann for the four Test in this Ashes series.

The Durham CCC left-handed batsman and leg-break bowler was highlighted by Graeme Swann in an interview. He spoke of the 23-year-old becoming a future England Test cricket all-rounder; "Personally, I hope little Scotty Borthwick gets the chance before long. He's a leg-spinner, he's got a bit of X-factor and he can bat as well."

Borthwick has played for England in the One Day format against Ireland in August 2011. He scored 15 runs in the match, and was taken for 13 runs in the single over bowled. 

Tredwell doesn't arrive in time to play in the Test starting Boxing Day but with two spinners likely to feature in the Sydney test he stands a chance of taking his second cap for his country. Even if he doesn't play in Sydney he will be playing against Australia in the ODI series in the middle of January.



Ball on Willow. 

Swanny Calls It Quits

England off-spinner bowler Graeme Swann has made a shock announcement this evening. The Nottinghamshire cricketer is retiring from all forms of the game, with immediate effect. So what does this means for England? It cannot affect the outcome of the Ashes but could it be a factor in deciding if this series Down Under is a whitewash or not. 

The 34-year-old played in 60 tests for his country, taking 255 wickets and averaging 23.40 runs an innings. 

Swanny will not play in the final two Tests of the Ashes series already underway but he has been one of the senior players who have been a disappointment in making an impact in the first three Tests, taking only seven wickets. 

Swann spoke out about his retirement; "I came to Australia in the hope of winning our fourth Ashes series on the trot but that's now impossible, so it's time for someone else to buckle in and enjoy the ride. I could have made myself available for the last two Tests and maybe had a bit of a send-off from the Barmy Army. But that's no reason to hang on for two more games. I like to be the centre of attention - but for the right reason by winning games of cricket."

Graeme Swann has not ruled out the possibility of playing in the IPL but as far as we know he has retired from Nottinghamshire and all forms of the game for England; Test appearances, ODIs and T20 international games. 

That's all for now.

Ball on Willow.

County Cricket News: Durham

DURHAM

Jon Lewis has been appointed the new coach after stepping up temporarily from the 2nd's when then coach Geoff Cook was left in critical condition following a heart attack back in June of this year.

Jon Lewis previously represented Essex and Durham, captaining both teams towards the end of his time at each county.The right-handed batsman achieved 205 first-class matches averaging 31.92 - his highest score of 210. He retired in 2006 and transitioned into coaching the academy at Durham and then the second squad.

Lewis helped Cook lead Durham to their third County Championship title last season.

Geoff Cook has worked at Durham since they have been a part of the County Championships in 1991. He has returned this season to an old role: overseeing the club's academy. He spoke about his return; "I feel absolutely, 100% fine and now I'm looking forward to getting back into cricket. Obviously what happened came as a real shock to my family. But cricket's in my blood and I'm planning for next year."

Lewis spoke about his new job title, saying; "I'm delighted to continue in this role and excited to keep giving our homegrown players an opportunity to shine. Having been second XI coach for many years I have worked with a lot of them and I'm hopeful of developing a good partnership alongside Paul Collingwood."
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Ball on Willow.

County Cricket News: Derbyshire

Most of the cricket news you've been seeing lately is centred around the Ashes (and us having to hand it back over to the Aussie's after 4 years possession).

So I thought I'd pull away from the norm and take a look at what county cricket is up to. As much as I would love to write about Middlesex all day long and how amazing they are, I thought I would be fair and do this alphabetically...leaving me to realise there are no A B or C counties in professional cricket...just in case you were interested.

DERBYSHIRE

Derbyshire are having a management reshuffle and told their current head coach Karl Krikken he will have to reapply for his own job. Tough times Karl!

The county club are restructuring after being relegated from Division One of the Championship last season. But it's not just Krikken, all coaching staff will have to reapply for their current positions at the club if they want to stay there. The club are also considering external applicants.

Chris Grant, Derbyshire Chairman, commented on the restructure; "We are very excited by our new structure. Reinforcing a culture of high performance across the club is essential if we are to fulfil our ambitions on the field; a learning that came through loud and clear from our experience in Division One last season. We are confident that these changes to our cricket model will enhance our chances of success in the years to come across all three domestic competition."
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Scott Elstone was released from Nottinghamshire CCC after the 2011-12 season ended. The right-handed batsman made his debut for Nottinghamshire's 1st XI in the CB40 game against Scotland  The Staffordshire-born right arm off break bowler also captained Nott's 2nd XI for two years, before September 2012 when it was announced his contract would not be renewed.

Elstone has been used as a substitute fielder for England several times. On August 1st 2011 Scott Elstone became the second youngest substitute fielder to take a catch during a match for England on home soil.

Elstone has also played for the Unicorns in the YB40 hitting his highest ever score of 75*. The 23-year-old played for Derbyshire's 2nd XI last summer averaging 35.83 runs a game. Derbyshire have offered Scott a one-year extension contract after his great summer for the seconds.
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Coming out of the academy with a summer contract this year includes Greg Cork, son of former England all-rounder Dominic Cork. Another youth to receive a contract for the 2014 season is Jonathan Marsden. Derbyshire have surprised everyone and also offered a contract to Ben Slater who looked highly unlikely to continue with the county squad at the end of the season in September.

Elstone and Cork are two players coming into the county side, two players leaving the club this year are Scottish cricketer Alasdair Evans and Dan Redfern who made his debut for Derbyshire aged only 16 in a NatWest Pro40 League match.
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Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be Derbyshire's overseas player for the 2013 and 2014 season with South African all-rounder Albie Morkel joining him in 2013 for the season.

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Ball on Willow.

India Push On

Virat Kohi scored 119 runs in the newly empty number four position in India's batting line up, left so by the recently retired cricketing legend: Sachin Tendulkar.

The all-rounder's knock of 119 came as a big relief when India's opening batsmen failed to make an impression when dismissed for 6 & 13.

Day one in Johannesburg left the visitors in South Africa on 255-5.

Newbie Ajinkya Rahane helped lift the score and the spirits as he hit an unbeaten 43 in his second Test match for India.


Ball on Willow.

Flower's Future

Andy Flower spoke out about his future with the England squad in a press conference this morning. He insists, "There are still many things to play for in this Ashes series."

Flower refused to commit to a future with England, saying; "I've never looked that far ahead, personally. Obviously my role means that I have to plan ahead for the team's sake. Personally I don't like looking too far ahead and quite frankly there are two test matches still to play in this series and I want all my focus to be on those two test matches. I think that's the right thing to do for the England cricket side."

Andy Flower was given the permanent position of team director in 2009 after he was the interim team director for the Caribbean tour in April when Peter Moores was removed at the beginning of that year. Since then, England won the Ashes for the first time since the 1986-7 series and two more wins consecutively after that.

Geoffrey Boycott summarised the situation by saying; "Some of our coaching staff should have a serious look at themselves because we are on the down and Australia are on the up. Australia have had more energy, and looked up for the challenge. They have plotted and planned better...We should be thinking and planning for 2015. Is our coach up for it?"

Ouch!


Ball on Willow.

The Ashes: Test Three Reactions

Plenty of reaction from both sides at the Waca after Australia win back the urn after four years apart from it. 

Man of the Match Steve Smith; "I've been a part of two Ashes now but to bring the urn back is very special. The boys have told me this is one of the best places to bat once you get in so I was pleased to cash in."

Glenn McGrath Ex-Australian fast bowler; "England showed a bit more fight in the second innings, led by Ben Stokes. He showed he has arrived in Test cricket and this stage is not beyond him. There are a lot of negatives but with Carberry, Root and especially Stokes there are some positives. Mitchell Johnson produced some hostile, in-your-face bowling and he has been the stand-out difference in this series."

Australia pacebowler Ryan Harris; "They are coming home. They are home. We have worked so hard for this. We played well in England but didn't get them. We played well in England but didn't manage it, but we needed to make sure we did it here. We wanted this so bad. It's emotional."

Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson; "I was a bit nervous for a while there but we came out after lunch and gave it everything. To finally win the Ashes is very special. It was pretty hard running in to keep my emotions in check. It's an unbelievable feeling. I came back from injury and had a lot of doubters, but I've come back and taken my chance. We are a real unit and everyone has worked hard for this."

Ex-England batsman Geoffrey Boycott; "This is a possible 5-0 now. Sometimes you can turn it around a bit but I see too many problems in the England side. England can't make enough runs to win matches. Look at Prior's dismissal this morning - it was a wide ball which didn't move and he showed no footwork and edged behind. Australia have planned well for players like Cook and Pietersen with their bowling and field placings. It's the same management team which weren't winning but they have managed to pick the players up. This is where the England coaches earn their money, when things are not going well...On paper, there is nothing to choose between the teams but one has got it significantly right in performance and planning. The other has cocked it up big time."

Australian captain Michael Clarke commented on his team's performance; ""What an amazing performance, not just today but throughout the first three Test matches. The boys deserve all the credit in the world and as Hadds just said to me "we've got them back". Look at the crowd and the support - it has been outstanding both at the venues and on TV. Credit to the players - the way they have stood tall has been outstanding. It was a tough night's sleep last night. Ben Stokes deserves a lot of credit to make a tough hundred. We've got two more Test matches, we'd love to win 5-0 in this series."

England's captain Alaistair Cook; "It's a tough dressing room to be in at the moment. We haven't been good enough and Australia have outplayed us. In sport you go out there and put yourself on the line. We have been found out, we haven't been good enough - we have been outskilled in all aspects. Our preparation has been fine throughout, that's not let us down. Our skills and a lack of people in form has cost us. They have just outplayed us and made their advantage count. Whenever they needed a partnership they got one. When we got one going, we gave a wicket away. We have left everything out there but came out short. We have not scored enough runs, simple as that. There is balance between risk and reward and our shot selection has let us down and we've been punished for it. It was a fantastic hundred by Ben Stokes, he struck the ball well and showed real calmness and intent. It was very special in the circumstances. He's a huge talent and we need to try and make sure we get the best out of him. It's too early to say what we will do with the side. There are always calls for change when you lose. We have got the players to win at Melbourne, we just have to deliver."

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughn; "It's too early to say what we will do with the side. There are always calls for change when you lose. We have got the players to win at Melbourne, we just have to deliver. The England players are all having a bit of lunch and they will be looking out of the window and hurting. The cameras are in the Australian dressing room and they will be singing their winning song. Well done to Australia. Australia have won by miles. From the minute they arrived at Gabba, it was a different Australia. They were going to make life difficult for England and the press joined in. England lost the three tosses but if I hear that as an excuse I will not be very happy. They have been completely outplayed in each facet of the game and you have to hold your hands up to Australia. The first innings scores are there to set the foundation for the game, you are not getting close to drawing let alone winning test matches with the scores England have got. England have been battered. It has been quite embarrassing."

And on that positive note...

Ball on Willow.